After launching its first original design in more than a decade at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show,, Saleen Automotive revealed plans to revive the S7 supercar with a new special-edition model. Yes, the "new" S7 is actually the old car with the same design, but the Southern Californian tuning shop is spicing things up with a new, significantly more powerful engine. The S7 in question is called the Le Mans Edition and stands out, compared to its predecessor, thanks to a twin-turbo V-8 rated at more than 1,000 horsepower!

Specifically, the familiar 7.0-liter V-8 that Saleen used on the original S7 in 2000 is no longer naturally aspirated but connected to a pair of large turbochargers. As a result, the supercar benefits from a whopping 1,300 horsepower, a huge increase from the old S7's 550-horsepower rating. But I should mention that this isn't the first twin-turbo S7. A similar model was produced between 2005 and 2009 with 750 horsepower and 700 pound-feet of torque.

All that oomph is routed to the rear wheels through a revised, longitudinal, six-speed synchromesh transmission and a limited-slip differential in the new model. There's no performance data available yet, but it should be notably quicker than the previous S7 Twin Turbo, so expect a sub-three-second 0-to-60 mph sprint and a sub ten-second quarter-mile run. Top speed should be well in excess of 220 mph.

Styling-wise, the S7 doesn't appear to have changed much outside the black center stripe and black detailing here and there. Inside, the Le Mans Edition comes with an integrated roll cage, air conditioning, a rearview camera, central-mounted tachometer, power windows and locks, and a 240-mph speedometer. Saleen said only seven units will be built, each priced at a cool $1 million. Is Steven Saleen trying to raise more funds for the new S1 sportscar? Probably yes.

In case you're wondering why this S7 is called the Le Mans Edition, it's a tribute to the supercar's racing career at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The vehicle made its debut in the GT class in 2001 and returned to the French track in 2002 and 2003. It was raced again in 2007 and 2008 and returned for the last time in 2010. However, the S7 wasn't exactly successful. Its best results came in 2007 with Team Oreca, which finished 10th and 16th. The car crossed the line in 13th in 2010 and 18th in 2001, but other results are mostly made of Did Not Finish or Did Not Arrive classifications. Still, it's quite the achievement for a supercar built by a small shop in California.

References

Saleen S7

Read our full review on the 2001 Saleen S7.

Read our full review on the 2017 Saleen S7 Le Mans Edition.